Daoism and Buddhism Flashcards
What is Daoism (taoism)?
Daoism is a philosophy, a religion, and a way of life that arose in the 6th century BCE in what is now the eastern Chinese province of Henan. It has strongly influenced the culture and religious life of China and other East Asian countries ever sinceThe Daoist community believes that nature, not people, ultimately controls how things change. Therefore, humans and their rules are less important. They also see the Confucianist emphasis on culture and civilized society as unnecessary and rather unnatural.
What is Buddhism?
Buddhism, also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha. Buddhism is one of the world’s largest religions and originated 2,500 years ago in India. Buddhists believe that the human life is one of suffering, and that meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment, or nirvana
What does wuwei refer to?
a key daoist concept
Non-action; the path of least resistance, of allowing things to run their natural course (Oxtoby & Segal, A Concise Introduction to World Religions)
“[…] inaction, meaning […] not a forced quietude but a course of action that is not founded on purposeful motives of gain or striving. In such a state, all human actions become as spontaneous and mindless as those of the natural world. Man becomes one with Nature, or Heaven, as Zhuangzi calls it, and merges himself with Dao, or the Way, the underlying unity that embraces man, Nature, and all that is in the Universe.”
What are some examples of yin attributes? (inferior)
yeilding
dark
cold
water
night
moon
fall-winter
north
earth
female
What are some yang attributes? (superior)
firm
light
hot
fire
day
sun
spring-summer
south
heaven
male
What are the 5 elements of Wuxing?
metal, wood, fire, earth, water
Heavenly Masters (Tianshi 天師) or Correct Unity Daoism (Zhengyi 正一)
Founded in 142 C.E., 1st Celestial Master Zhang Daoling
215 C.E., Zhang Lu submits to Cao Cao spread of Daoism
Strong organization, codes of benevolent morality, practice of confession & petitioning rituals.
Converts introduced to faith through recitation of “re-interpreted” Laozi (aka Daodejing)
Important scriptures include The Xiang’er Commentary to the Laozi, Commands and Admonitions for the Families of the Great Dao & Scriptures of the Inner Explanations of the Three Heavens
What is the most dominant form of Buddhism in East Asia?
Mahayana
Basic concepts
Samsara (lunhui 輪回): caught in a cycle of birth, death & rebirth
Karma (yinguobaoying 因果報應)
Nirvana (niepan 涅槃)/salvation (tiantang 天堂)
What are the 4 noble truths?
Life is full of suffering (ku 苦)
Suffering is caused by desire (ji 集)
Eliminate desire to eliminate suffering (mie 滅)
Eliminate desire by following the Noble Eightfold Path (dao 道)
Spread of Buddhism through China
Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.- 220 C.E.):
- Buddhism enters China.
- The dream of Emperor Ming (58-75 C.E.)
Period of Disunity (ca. 3rd-6th century C.E.):
- Spread of Buddhism
Tang dynasty (618-907 C.E.):
- (female) Emperor Wu Zetian (625-705)
- Emperor Wuzong (814-846) & religious persecution
What were the popular sects of the 18th century?
the meditative school
the pure land school
